The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-14
CHAT WITH EVANGELIST sANkEY.

The Sweet Singer Tells About His Many
Sacred songs-Their Magic Power.
Ira D. Sankey, the evangelist, was seen
by a reporter just before he sailed for
Europe. He conversed freely about the
HYMNS he has sung so often and we'll
There are two classes of songs" he
said 1.-TWO fields, as it were, that need not
necessarily conflict, viz, the high classical
music and the simple gospel hymns. One
is music for those educated in music-it
appeals to their science and knowledge or
harmony; the other is the pure and sim
pie music, that interests millions of peo-
pie who have no knOwIede OF music, but
enjoy what they feel The higher grade
of music serves its purpose, has its vota-
ries, and do not know but what would
be more interested in it myself, if my
audience were all good musicians. The
outlying masses of poor humanity are not
educated up to difficult classical music;
it takes some sweet and pure melody to
go straight to their hearts. They gather
their impulses from what they feel, and
to move the impulse in the right direction,
to touch it with loving and appealing
music, is the sure way to guide and con
troll Music that can not do this would
be Of little service to the evangelist.
ut is the simple, unpretentious reading
of the sacred songs that IS acceptable,
reaches the feeling and prepares the wy
for the sermon that comes afterWard ana
does the work. Why music has magic
that no soul can fathon; it elevates the
IIrt.1tored; it enraptures the dull; 1t
THRILLS with ecstatic joy the weary ana
longing: it opens the heart OF the stony
and sweeps in triumphant waves OF mel
ody through the bosom of the cold and
cherries. Fifty thousand sermons VIII
not move some minds. The eloquence OF
St Paul, the enthusiasm OF John Knox
the logic of SpurgeOn, and the magnetic
earnestness of Mr. Moody yg0uld fail to &C
complish with some people That simple
and tender strain of music would under
proper con 3itiOns. The charm and power
of music can not be overestimated, ana IL
is a potent influence in connection with
preaching the word of God.
Were you always musician MT.
Sankey?r
YES | was borne with music in me-
sang from the time l can remember IL
came natural to me; l felt it and it came
forth. But I had no idea that L ever
would be q preacher and sing with MT.
Moody. I was business man at New
castle. Pa Nv father was an internal
revenue collector appointed under Fre Sno
dent Lincoln. l was his deputy. IN 1905
met Mr. Moody at Indianapolis SnQ
after he had heard me sing he said thsU l
VS. tha man he wanted. The music L
began to sing with him is mostly amer
lean. the outgrowth chiefly Of our socla'
and political conditions. Very few hymns
chat l sing are foreign"
How do you manage to gather the oeS'
songs?" 49,.
aWhen I read or hear of poem tha'
has beauty and the spirit OF JehoVah
either in the lines or between, 1mmedl-
atelv buy it, even at high price. nave
paid as high as $50 for few verses that
seemed to have the true ring. We are
COMPOSING new hymns all the time
"Have you anything to say about the
music of the future?"
Gas / have said before there are tWI
classes of music-the higher or classical
the simple or touching. The latter WI
be more popular, because easily uDder
stood and felt. 1t will be many years,
ever when classical music will be under
stood by the masses. The eXPeFiIneIh
Tins far. proved inductively by Mr.. MOODY
and myseIf during a long number o.
Years shows that simple, pure musr
AIDS a greater response in the aVerag
human breast than any other kind heas
oniDy from this basis conclude thaI III
,1I,sic of the future must appeal 10 In'
feeling. must be pure, simple and unpre
+enrions. New York Mail and Express